John jennings



(No Model.)

J. JENNINGS GAR COUPLING.

No. 362,091. Patented May 3, 1887.

a liimmlillm UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN JENNINGS, OF CANON CITY, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR TO 'LEVIS E. FRANOK, OFSAME PLACE.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 362,091, dated May. 3,1887.

7 Application filed September 16, 1886. Serial No. 213.749. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN JENNINGS, of Canon City, in the countyofFremont and State of Colorado, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Gar-Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improved car coupling, and seeks to provide a simpleconstruction in the use of which it will be entirely unnecessary for theoperator to go between the cars either to effect a coupling oruncoupling thereof.

The invention consists in certain features of construction and novelcombinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of one endof a car provided with my improvements. Fig. 2 is a plan View of thecoupling devices, the top of the drawhead being removed; and Fig. 3 is avertical longitudinal section of the coupling drawn through the openingformed to facilitate the iapplication and removal of the camfasteningolt.

The draw-head A may be generally of any approved form, and may beattached to the car in any suitable manner.

The anchor-bars B are pivoted at their rear ends by a vertical bolt, 0,to the draw-head at the rear of the socket to of such head, and suchbars extend forwardone at each side of said socketto near the front endor mouth of same. At their front ends the inner or adjacent sides of thebars are beveled inward, forming practically a flaring mouth to directthe draw-bar inward between the anchor-bars. In rear of such beveledsurfaces the anchorbars are formed with backwardly-facing shoulders b,which serve to clutch the heads d of the drawbars D when the latter areforced between the anchor-bars in the use of the coupling. Springs E areconnected at one end to the anchor-bars, and bear at their opposite endsagainst the Wall of the draw-head sockets, such springs serving normallyto force the anchor-bars inward toward each other. One of theseanchor-bars is formed in casting, or otherwise suitably provided on itsinner side with a bearing, F, for the operating cam, which bearing Fisitself, by preference, formed with a cam-face, f, for engagement by theacting face of the operating-cam. This operating-cam G is supported soit can be revolved, and has next the bearing F a cam-face, g, whichengages said bearing as the cam is revolved, and operates to force theanchor'bars apart to free the draw-bar, or may serve to hold such barsapart to receive a link, and so permit the proper coupling of myimproved coupling with an ordinary link-and-pin coupling. The cam G, asshown, is revolubly supported between the anchor-bars, and this ispreferably effected by securing it on a shaft, H, extended through andbeyond the opposite sides of the draw-head, and having at its endshandles by which it may be turned. Such shaft is supported near its endsin bearings I, suitably secured to the car.

The cam GilS perforated to permit the pars sage of shaft H, and theperforation and shaft are preferably formed with, respectively, a keywayand a feather to enable the keying of the cam on the shaft. To securesuch cam to the shaft, a bolt, J, is passed through such parts when theyare properly arranged. An opening, 9', formed through the wall of thedraw-head, permits the application and removal of the bolt J.

In front of the cam mechanism and between the anchor-bars I arrange apin, K. By this pin the improved coupling may be coupled with anordinary link-and-pin coupling; but

the main purpose of such pin is to protect the cam mechanism from injuryby the drawbar in enteringthe draw-head, and also from injury by saiddraw-bar when the latteris held in the draw-head and is forced to couplewith another draw-head, as will be understood. By supporting the cam ona horizontal axis an easy,strong action is obtained, and the said cammay be operated from either side of the car without any complicatedconnections.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. In acarcoupling, the combination of spriug-actuated anchor-bars, one ofwhich has a bearing on its inner side, a cam arranged to operate betweensaid bars and to engage Isaid bearing, and a shaft for supporting saidcam, such shaft being arranged in or approximately parallel to the planeof movement of the bars, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with spring-actuated anchor-bars, of a cam arrangedbetween them and suitably supported, whereby it may revolve on ahorizontal axis, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with the anohor bars, of a cam-faced bearing fixedto one of such bars and a cam movable and arranged to engage saidbearing, the axis of such movable cam being in or approximately parallelwith the plane of movement of the anchor-bars, substantially as setforth.

4. The combination of the draw-head,springactuated anchor-bars, the camarranged between said bars and adapted to engage a bearing on one ofsame, a shaft passed through said cam, and a bolt for connecting saidcam and shaft, the draw-head being provided with an opening suitablyarranged to permit the application and removal of said bolt,substantially as described, and for the purposes specifled.

5. The improved car-coupling, consisting of the draw-head, thespring-aetuated anchor bars, one of which is provided with a camfaeedbearing, the cam arranged to engage said bearing, the shaft, the boltconnecting the cam and shaft, the draw-head being provided with anopening to permit the adjustment of the bolt, and the pin arranged infront of the cam mechanism, substantially as set forth.

JOHN JENNINGS.

Vitnesses:

JOHN M. GILLIGAN, Jiinns H. PEABODY.

